Sunday Octoechos Services
Sunday Services in the Seventh Tone
Saturday Evening Great Vespers
After the Introductory Psalm, the usual chanting from the Psalter. On Lord, I have cried…
The Resurrectional Stichera, in Tone VII:
Stichos: Bring my soul out of prison,/ that I may confess Thy name.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord/ Who hath broken the might of death/ and enlightened the human race;/ and let us cry out with the incorporeal ones:// O our Creator and Savior, glory be to Thee!
Stichos: The righteous shall wait patiently for me/ until Thou shalt reward me.
For our sake, O Savior, Thou didst endure the Cross and burial./ And as God Thou didst slay death by death./ Wherefore, we bow down before Thy rising on the third day.// O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Stichos: Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord;/ O Lord, hear my voice.
Beholding Thy resurrection, the apostles marvelled,/ chanting angelic praise./ This is the glory of the Church!/ These are the riches of the kingdom!/ O Lord Who suffered for our sake,// glory be to Thee!
Stichos: Let Thine ears be attentive/ to the voice of my supplication.
Thou wast seized by iniquitous men, O Christ,/ yet Thou art my God, and I am not confounded./ Thou wast beaten on the shoulders, yet I shun Thee not./ Thou wast nailed to the Cross, and I do not conceal it./ I boast in Thine arising; for Thy death is my life.// O almighty Lord Who lovest mankind, glory be to Thee!
Stichos: If Thou shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall stand?/ For with Thee there is forgiveness.
Fulfilling the prophecy of David,/ Christ revealed His majesty to the disciples in Sion,/ showing Himself to be ever-laudable and glorious,/ with the Father and the Spirit,/ and to be the One Who, as the Word, was incorporeal in the beginning,/ was later incarnate for our sake,/ was slain as a man, and arose with power// as He Who loveth mankind.
Stichos: For Thy name’s sake have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord, my soul hath waited patiently for Thy word,/ my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
Thou didst descend into hades as Thou didst will, O Christ;/ Thou didst overthrow death as God and Master;/ and Thou didst rise on the third day,/ raising up Adam with Thyself from the bonds of hades and corruption;/ and he cried out, saying:// Glory to Thy resurrection, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind!
Stichos: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch/ let Israel hope in the Lord.
Thou wast laid in the tomb as one asleep, O Lord,/ and didst rise on the third day as one powerful in might,/ raising up Adam with Thyself from the corruption of death,// in that Thou art almighty.
Then stichera for the saint from the Menaion.
Glory… from the Menaion. Now and ever…
The dogmatic theotokion, in Tone VII:
Thou hast been known to have become a Mother in supernatural manner, O Theotokos,/ and hast remained a Virgin in manner past recounting and understanding;/ and no tongue can describe the wonder of thy birthgiving./ For as thy conceiving is all-glorious,/ so is the manner of thy birthgiving beyond comprehension;/ for where God so willeth, the order of nature is over-ruled./ Wherefore, knowing thee to be the Mother of God,/ we all earnestly entreat thee:// Pray thou that our souls be saved!
Entrance. O gladsome Light…
The daily prokimenon, in Tone VI:
The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty.
Stichos: The Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself.
Stichos: For He hath established the world which shall not be shaken.
Stichos: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.
The aposticha stichera, in Tone VII:
Thou didst rise from the tomb, O Savior of the world,/ and with Thy flesh didst raise men up.// Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Stichos: The Lord is King,/ He is clothed with majesty.
Come, let us worship Him Who hath risen from the dead and enlightened all;/ for He hath freed us from the tyranny of hades,/ and by His resurrection on the third day// hath granted us life and great mercy.
Stichos: For He hath established the world/ which shall not be shaken.
Thou didst descend into hades and make death captive, O Christ;/ and rising on the third day,/ Thou didst raise up with Thyself those who glorified Thine almighty arising,// O Lord Who lovest mankind.
Stichos: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord,/ unto length of days.
Awesome wast Thou, lying in the tomb as one asleep, O Lord;/ and rising on the third day as One mighty,/ Thou didst raise up Adam, who cried:// Glory to Thy resurrection, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind!
Glory… if there is a doxasticon provided.
If not, Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:
Having recourse unto thy protection, O Mistress,/ all of us born of earth cry aloud to thee:/ O Theotokos, our hope, deliver us from our countless transgressions,// and save thou our souls.
Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…
Trisagion through Our Father.
Resurrectional troparion, in Tone VII:
Thou didst destroy death by Thy Cross,/ Thou didst open paradise to the thief./ Thou didst change the lamentation of the Myrrh-bearers,/ and Thou didst command Thine Apostles/ to proclaim that Thou didst arise, O Christ God,// and grantest to the world great mercy.
Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:
As thou art the treasury of our resurrection, O all-hymned one,/ lead up from the pit and abyss of transgression those who trust in thee,/ for thou who gavest birth to our Salvation/ hast saved those who are subject to sin./ O thou who before giving birth wast Virgin,/ and during thy birthgiving wast virgin,// thou remainest a Virgin even after giving birth.
And the rest of the service followeth in order.
Sunday Morning Matins
After the Six Psalms, we chant God is the Lord… in Tone VII, and sing the resurrectional troparion, twice, and the theotokion, once. Then the usual chanting of the Psalter.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional sessional hymns, in Tone VII:
Life lay in the tomb, and the seal lay upon the stone. The soldiers guarded Christ as they would a sleeping king, and the angels glorified Him as immortal God. And the women cried aloud: The Lord hath risen, granting great mercy to the world!
Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end.
O Christ God, Who by Thy burial madest death captive, and Who by Thine arising raised up man who had become corrupt: Glory to Thee, in that Thou lovest mankind!
Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:
O Virgin Theotokos, unceasingly entreat Christ our God, Who for our sake was crucified, rose again, and cast down the dominion of death, that He save our souls.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional sessional hymns, in Tone VII:
While the tomb was sealed, Thou didst shine forth life from the grave, O Christ God; and while the doors were shut, Thou, the Resurrection of all, didst stand before the disciples, through them renewing an upright spirit for us, according to Thy great mercy.
Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.
The women ran to Thy tomb, bearing myrrh and tears; and while the soldiers were keeping watch over Thee, the King of all, they said to themselves: “Who will roll away the stone for us?” But the Angel of great Counsel had arisen, trampling down death. O Lord almighty, glory be to Thee!
Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos full of grace, haven and intercession for the human race, for of thee did the Deliverer of the world become incarnate, for thou alone art both Mother and Virgin, ever-blessed and all-glorious. Entreat Christ God, that He grant peace to all the world.
Blessed are the blameless in the way… followed by the troparia The assembly of the angels…
Little litany, and this hypacoï, in Tone VII:
O Christ God, Who assumed our form and endured the Cross in the flesh, save me by Thy resurrection, in that Thou lovest mankind.
Songs of Ascent
Antiphon I in Tone VII:
O Savior Who turned the captivity of Sion away from falsehood,/ grant life unto me, rescuing me// from enslaving passions.
He who with tears soweth the afflictions of fasting in the south// shall reap sheaves of joy and everlasting life.
Glory…, Now and ever…
Through the Holy Spirit cometh the well-spring of divine treasures:/ from Him are wisdom, understanding and fear,/ and to Him are due praise and glory,// honor and dominion.
Antiphon II
If the Lord buildeth not the house of the soul, in vain do we labor;// for without Him is no work or word made perfect.
Moved by the Spirit,/ the saints, made true children through adoption by the Son,// have transmitted the teachings of the Father.
Glory…, Now and ever…
Through the Holy Spirit doth everything come into being;/ for, from before the beginning of time, He hath been the God of all,// the Lord of all, the unapproachable Light, and the Life of all.
Antiphon III
Having found the paths of life,/ they who fear the Lord are blessed, now and forever,// with incorruptible glory.
Seeing thine offspring like the trunks of trees round about thy table,/ rejoice and be glad,// leading them to Christ, the Chief Shepherd.
Glory…, Now and ever…
From the Holy Spirit come an abyss of gifts,/ a wealth of glory and great depths of judgment;/ for, equal in glory with the Father and the Son,// He is worshipped with Them.
Prokimenon, in Tone VII:
Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end.
Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
The appointed Resurrectional Gospel.
Then, this resurrectional hymn, in Tone VI:
Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy holy resurrection we hymn and glorify. For Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee, we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s holy resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His resurrection; for, having endured crucifixion, He hath destroyed death by death.
Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, O God…
Glory… Through the prayers of the apostles, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Now and ever… Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Then, in Tone VI:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression.
Then, this sticheron:
Jesus having risen from the grave, as He foretold, hath given us life eternal, and great mercy.
Then, the Prayer: Save, O God, Thy people… followed by the exclamation: Through the mercy and compassions and love for mankind…
The Canons, in Tone VII:
Ode I
Irmos: By Thy hand was the nature of water,/ which before was fluid,/ transformed into solid form, O Lord./ Wherefore, having passed through it dryshod,// Israel chanteth to Thee a hymn of victory.
Refrain: Glory to Thy holy resurrection, O Lord!
By the Tree was the tyranny of death overthrown, when Thou wast condemned to an unjust death, O Lord; thus, utterly unable to vanquish Thee, the prince of darkness was rightly banished.
Hades drew nigh to Thee, but his fangs were unable to rend Thy body, and his jaws were broken; wherefore, having destroyed the pangs of death, O Savior, Thou didst arise on the third day.
Theotokion: The pangs of our first mother Eve have been eased, for, eluding pain, thou gavest birth without knowing man. Wherefore, clearly knowing thee to be the Theotokos, O all-pure one, we all glorify thee.
Canon of the Cross and the Resurrection
Ode 1, same tone.
Irmos: He Who crusheth battles…
Refrain: Glory to Thy Precious Cross and Resurrection, O Lord.
On the Cross the Savior poured forth two life-bearing streams for us from His pierced side. Let us chant unto Him, for He hath been glorified.
Having dwelt in the tomb and arisen on the third day, Christ, the Expectation of the nations, granted incorruption unto mortals. Let us chant unto Him, for He hath been glorified.
Theotokion: Thou alone wast shown to be a virgin even after giving birth; for thou gavest birth unto the Creator for the world. Wherefore, we all cry out to thee: Rejoice!
Canon of the Theotokos
Ode 1, same tone.
Irmos: By Thy hand was the nature…
Refrain: O most holy Theotokos, save us.
O Virgin who gavest birth to the Abyss of loving-kindness, illumine my soul with thy luminous effulgence, that I may hymn the abyss of thy wonders as is meet.
Seeing us wounded by the dart of sin, the Word took pity on us, as our Benefactor; wherefore, the All-divine One ineffably united Himself to flesh He had received from thee, O most pure one.
The corrupt and mortal nature of man was seized by death, O Mistress; but when thou didst conceive Life, thou didst lift it up from corruption unto life.
Then, the canon from the Menaion, and the katavasia as prescribed by the Typicon.
Ode III
Irmos: O Lord and Savior,/ Who in the beginning established the heavens by Thine omnipotent word/ and confirmed all their power by the all-accomplishing and divine Spirit:// establish me upon the immovable rock of the confession of Thee!
Having ascended the Tree, O compassionate Savior, of Thine own will Thou didst experience pain for our sake and didst endure the wounding which won reconciliation and salvation for the faithful. And thereby have we all been reconciled with Thy Father, O Merciful One.
Having cleansed of sores me who was wounded by the sting of the serpent, O Christ, Thou didst show forth light unto me who from of old have lain in darkness and corruption; for having descended into hades through the Cross, Thou didst raise me up with Thyself.
Theotokion: Through the entreaties of Thy Mother who knew not man, O Savior, grant peace to the world, and vouchsafe Thine ineffable glory unto those who glorify Thee.
Canon of the Cross and Resurrection
Irmos: O Thou Who lovest mankind…
O Thou Who alone lovest mankind, Who endured sufferings upon the Cross and, as God and Benefactor, opened paradise to the thief, make my mind firm in Thy will.
O Thou Who alone lovest mankind, Who arose from the grave on the third day and, as the Bestower of life and God, shone forth life upon the world, establish my mind in Thy will.
Theotokion: O Mary, Virgin and Mother, as thou didst conceive God without seed and hast delivered Eve from the curse, entreat God Who became incarnate of thee, that He save thy flock.
Canon of the Theotokos
Irmos: O Lord and Savior…
The serpent who slithered forth from Eden, beguiling me with a desire to become a god, hath cast me down to the ground; but He Who is merciful and compassionate by nature, having made His abode within thy womb and become like unto me, O Virgin Mother, hath taken pity and deified me.
Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O Virgin Theotokos, thou joy of all; for for the whole world thou gavest birth unto the Joy and Gladness which truly dispelleth the grief of sin, O Bride of God.
O Virgin Theotokos, thou didst truly give birth for us to eternal Life and Peace, causing men’s ancient battle against God the Father to cease, through thy faith and confession of grace.
Ode IV
Irmos: O Christ God Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, didst descend to earth:/ I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation,// and have glorified Thee, Who alone lovest mankind.
Giving His shoulders over to stripes, the innocent Master, Who was incarnate of the Virgin, was beaten by a most sinful servant, loosing mine offenses.
Standing before the tribunal of iniquitous judges, the Judge is examined as one indicted; and He Who judgeth the earth with righteousness and as God-formed man is smitten by a hand of clay.
Theotokion: In that thou art truly the Mother of God, entreat thy Creator and Son, O most immaculate one, that He guide me to the saving haven of His glorious will.
Canon of the Cross and the Resurrection
Irmos: In latter times, the prophet…
O Lord Who knowest not sin, yet because of it didst become that which Thou wast not: Thou takest form, receiving that which is alien to Thee, that Thou mightest save the world and slay the deceiving tyrant.
Thou wast uplifted upon the Cross and didst release our forefather Adam from his sin, for which cause I have heard of Thy power; for Thou didst come to save all Thine anointed ones.
Theotokion: When Thou didst die, O Thou Who wast born of the Virgin, Thou didst give life unto Adam who erred in mind; and death was terrified of Thy might, for Thou didst come to save all who had fallen under corruption.
Canon of the Theotokos
Irmos: O Christ God Who, without leaving…
O most hymned one, who even before creation appeared to God as wholly elect and beauteous in the splendor of thy radiance, enlighten those who hymn thee.
For man, O pure one, thou gavest birth unto God, Who became incarnate of thy pure blood, and delivereth from many offenses those who with love glorify and honor thee, O Mother and Virgin.
Reason-endowed nature, having now learned the ineffable mystery of thy birthgiving, O most hymned and all-blessed one, offereth priestly ministry unto Him Who shone forth from thee.
Ode V
Irmos: Night is bereft of light for those without faith, O Christ,/ but for the faithful there is enlightenment in the sweetness of Thy words;/ wherefore, I rise early unto Thee// and hymn Thy divinity.
For Thy servants art Thou betrayed, and Thou endurest blows to Thy cheeks, which win freedom for those who chant: I rise early unto Thee and hymn Thy divinity!
By Thy divine power, O Christ, Thou didst cast down the mighty one with Thy weak human flesh, and by Thy resurrection thou hast shown me to be a victor over death, O Savior.
Theotokion: O pure Mother, Thou gavest birth unto God, Who as God became incarnate of thee, O most hymned one; and though thou hadst no concourse with the male gender, yet dost thou give birth through the Holy Spirit.
Canon of the Cross and Resurrection
Irmos: Rising at dawn…
When Thou wast numbered with the outlaws, Thou didst ascend Golgotha. And the lights of heaven hid themselves, the earth quaked, and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, making manifest the apostasy of the Jews.
With hymns we glorify Thee, Who destroyed all the power of the tyrant with the might of Thine unapproachable divinity, and raised up the dead by Thy resurrection.
Theotokion: O most hymned Theotokos, Mother of our God and King, by thine entreaties send down cleansing of transgressions upon those who with faith and love ever praise thee in hymns.
Canon of the Theotokos
Irmos: Night is bereft of light…
Beholding the ladder set firmly in the highest, Jacob understood it to be an image of thee, O thou who knewest not wedlock; for through thee hath God come into fellowship with men, O most pure Mistress.
Having now found everlasting deliverance through thee, O Virgin, we earnestly cry out to thee, “Rejoice!” O Bride of God; and uplifted to joy by thy light, O most hymned one, we hymn thee in songs.
The Bridegroom found thee alone like a lily among thorns, shining with the radiance of purity and the light of virginity, O Virgin, and He took thee to be His Bride, O most immaculate one.
Ode VI
Irmos: Sailing amid the tumult of the cares of life,/ I founder with the ship of sin/ and am cast to the soul-destroying beast;/ yet like Jonah I cry to Thee, O Christ:// Lead me up from the deadly abyss!
The souls of the righteous imprisoned in hades and left there, remembered Thee and besought salvation of Thee, which through the Cross Thou didst grant to the nether regions, O Christ, having come there full of loving-kindness.
The choir of the apostles despaired of ever seeing again Thine animate temple not made by man, which was destroyed by Thy sufferings; yet, beyond hope, they worshipped Thee and everywhere proclaimed Thee risen.
Theotokion: Who among men can explain the manner of thine ineffable birthgivng which took place for our sake, O Virgin Bride of God? For God the Word, Who is uncircumscribable, uniting Himself to thee, became flesh through thee.
Canon of the Cross and Resurrection
Irmos: Jonah cried out…
Lifted up upon the Cross of Thine own will, O Savior, Thou didst make captive the dominion of the enemy, nailing the record of our sins to it, O Good One.
Rising from the dead with power, O Savior, Thou didst raise up the human race with Thee, granting us life and incorruption, in that Thou lovest mankind.
Theotokion: O Theotokos, never cease to entreat our God, to Whom thou didst ineffably give birth, that those who hymn thee may be delivered from misfortunes, O pure Ever-virgin.
Canon of the Theotokos
Irmos: Sailing amid the tumult…
The images of the law and the foretellings of the prophets clearly proclaimed beforehand thee, O pure one, who wouldst give birth to the Benefactor of all creation, Who continually and in manifold ways hath benefited those who hymn thee with faith.
The first-created Adam, who of old was banished from the divine delight of Eden through the treachery of the slayer of man, didst thou restore when thou gavest birth unto Him Who hath delivered us from his transgression, O thou who knewest not wedlock.
He Who by His divine will and creative power brought all things into being out of nothingness, issued forth from thy womb, O pure one, and with divine lightning flashes He hath illumined those who are in the darkness of death.
Kontakion, in Tone VII:
No longer will the dominion of death be able to keep men captive;/ for Christ hath descended, demolishing and destroying the powers thereof./ Hades is bound;/ the prophets rejoice with one voice, saying:/ A Savior hath come for them that have faith.// Come forth, ye faithful, for the Resurrection
Ikos: Below, the uttermost depths, hades and death trembled today before One of the Trinity; the earth quaked, and the gatekeepers of hades, beholding Thee, were horrified. And all creation, rejoicing with the prophets, singeth a hymn of victory to Thee, our Deliverer and God, Who hast now destroyed the power of death. Let us exult and cry out unto Adam and his descendents, in that the tree of the Cross hath restored him to paradise: Come forth, ye faithful, unto the resurrection!
Ode VII
Irmos: Of old, the children showed the fiery furnace to pour forth dew,/ hymning the one God and saying:/ Supremely exalted and all-glorious// is the God of our fathers!
Through a tree death came to Adam, who of his own will committed disobedience; but through the obedience of Christ is he restored. For my sake is the all-glorious Son of God crucified.
All creation hath hymned Thee, O Christ, Who rose from the tomb; for Thou didst cause life to blossom forth for those in hades, and resurrection for the dead, and light for those in darkness, O All-glorious One.
Theotokion: Rejoice, daughter of corrupt Adam! Rejoice, only Bride of God! Rejoice, O thou who gavest birth to God, and through whom corruption was driven off! Him do thou beseech, O pure one, that we all be saved.
Canon of the Cross and Resurrection
Irmos: Cast into the fiery furnace…
Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, who didst break the sting of sin on the tree of the Cross, and with the spear which pierced Thy side didst tear asunder the record of Adam’s crime!
Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, Who wast pierced in the side and with the sprinkling of Thy divine blood didst cleanse the earth, which had been defiled by the blood of idolatrous sacrifices!
Theotokion: O Theotokos, upon the world thou didst shine forth Christ, the Light Who existeth from before the sun, and Who delivereth from darkness and with divine knowledge enlighteneth all who cry out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!
Canon of the Theotokos
Irmos: Of old, the children…
Thy Lord and Creator, O Virgin, loved thee, who art possessed of raiment embroidered with gold, wrought of many colors. Supremely exalted and all-glorious is the God of our fathers!
Receiving the burning coal of old, Isaiah was purified, O Maiden; and in signs he beheld thy giving birth to the supremely exalted and all-glorious God of our fathers.
Of old, the divine prophets, beholding images and signs of thy divine birthgiving, joyously cried out, chanting: Supremely exalted and all-glorious is the God of our fathers!
Ode VIII
Irmos: In Sinai, the bush unburnt by fire,/ communing with Moses,/ made God known to him, who was slow of speech and spake with difficulty;/ while their aeal for God showed forth the three children/ as singers not open to assault by the fire, crying “O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord,// and exalt Him above all for ever!”
Slaughtered for the world, the all-pure Lamb brought an end to the sacrifices offered in accordance with the law, in that He is God, purifying it of transgressions, that it may ever cry: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Our flesh, which was assumed by the Creator, was not incorrupt before His suffering; but after His suffering and resurrection it was rendered untouchable by corruption, and restoreth mortals, who cry: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Theotokion: Thy pure and most unblemished state hath purified the vile and abominable state of the whole world, O Virgin; and thou becamest the cause of our reconciliation with God. Wherefore, O all-pure Virgin, all of us, His works, bless and exalt thee supremely for all ages.
Canon of the Cross and Resurrection
Irmos: The only unoriginate King of glory…
Him Who of His own will endured sufferings, Who was nailed to the Cross at His own desire, and destroyed the power of hades, do ye hymn, O priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Him Who abolished the dominion of death, Who arose from the tomb in glory, and saved the human race, do ye hymn, O priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Theotokion: The only Compassionate One, the preëternal Word, Who was born of the Virgin in the latter days, and annulled the ancient curse, do ye hymn, O priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Canon of the Theotokos
Irmos: The bush on Sinai…
With the light of thy birthgiving thou didst strangely enlighten the whole world, O Theotokos; for in thine arms thou dost bear Him Who is truly God, Who enlighteneth the faithful, who ever cry: O all ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
O pure one, we piously hymn thy womb, which ineffably contained the incarnate God, Who hath given the enlightenment of the knowledge of God unto all the faithful, who ever cry: O all ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
With the splendors of thy light thou hast rendered those who hymn thee luminous, O pure Theotokos, bearer of the Light; for thou wast shown to be the habitation of the Light, illumining with light those who cry: O all ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Then we chant the Hymn of the Theotokos: My soul doth magnify the Lord… with the refrain More honorable than the cherubim…
Ode IX
Irmos: Without tasting corruption,/ Thou hast conceived and lent flesh to the Word,/ Who is Artificer of all,/ O Mother who knew not a man, O Virgin Theotokos,/ vessel of Him Who cannot be contained,// dwelling place of Thine infinite Creater: we magnify Thee.
O all ye of alien mind, who assume that the Divinity suffered, stop your mouths; for we magnify the Lord of glory crucified in the flesh, but not crucified in His divine essence, for He is One in two natures.
O ye who believe not in the resurrection of the body, come ye to the tomb of Christ and learn; for the flesh of the Bestower of life was dead and rose again, to assure us of the final resurrection, wherein we hope.
Triadicon: Worshipping a Trinity of Hypostases, not of Godheads, a Oneness of divinity, not of Persons, we cut off those who divide It; moreover, we confound those who dare to confuse that which we magnify.
Canon of the Cross and Resurrection
Irmos: O Mother of God and Virgin…
Christ, the Light from Light, the Effulgence of the Father’s glory which shone forth timelessly, shone forth upon human life like Light in the darkness, and drove away the tormenting gloom. O ye faithful, let us magnify Him without ceasing.
Beholding in Christ sufferings of the flesh and the might of divinity, let those who reason that He is a single, commingled Being be put to shame; for as man He dieth, but as the Creator of all He riseth again.
“Myrrh is suitable for the dead, while hymnody is fitting for one who is alive. Tears are proper for the dying, but offer hymns O ye women, to the Life of all!” the herald of the resurrection cried out, announcing the glad tidings of Christ’s arising.
Theotokion: “I know none other God than Thee,” the Church crieth out to Thee, “O Word Who hast chosen me from among the unbelieving nations as Thy bride, grant salvation unto the faithful, through the supplications of her who gave Thee birth, in that Thou art compassionate.”
Canon of the Theotokos
Irmos: O Mother of God and Virgin…
Thou hast been the Mediatress of everlasting joy and gladness for us, O Ever-virgin Maiden, having given birth to the Deliverer who delivereth those who worship Him as God in truth and by the divine Spirit.
David, thine ancestor, O all-pure one, hymning thee, calleth thee the ark of divine holiness, which supernaturally contained God Who sitteth in the bosom of the Father. O ye faithful, let us magnify Him without ceasing.
Thou art truly more exalted than all creation, O Maiden, for thou didst give birth bodily to the Creator of all for us; wherefore, as the Mother of the one Master, with authority thou dost carry the victory against all enemies.
After the katavasia, the little litany.
Then, Holy is the Lord our God! thrice;
and the matins exapostilarion.
On the Praises, 8 stichera, in Tone VII:
Stichos: To do among them the judgment that is written./ This glory shall be to all His saints.
Christ hath risen from the dead,/ bursting the bonds of death!/ O earth, proclaim great joy!// Ye heavens, sing the glory of God!
Stichos: Praise ye God in His saints,/ praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Having beheld the resurrection of Christ,/ let us worship the holy Lord Jesus,// Who alone is sinless.
Stichos: Praise Him for His mighty acts,/ praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.
Let us not cease worshipping the resurrection of Christ;/ for the holy Lord Jesus,/ revealing His resurrection,// hath saved us from our iniquities.
Stichos: Praise Him with the sound of trumpet,/ praise Him with psaltery and harp.
What shall we render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto us?/ God the Word, for the sake of us and our corrupted nature,/ took flesh, and dwelt among us men./ To the thankless He came as Benefactor;/ to the captive as Liberator;/ to those sitting in darkness as the Sun of righteousness./ On the Cross, He was dispassionate;/ in hades, He was light;/ in death He was life and resurrection for the fallen./ Let us cry aloud to Him:// O our God, glory be to Thee!
Stichos: Praise Him with timbrel and dance,/ praise Him with strings and flute.
Thou didst break down the gates of hades, O Lord;/ with Thy mighty power Thou didst abolish the dominion of death;/ and by Thy glorious resurrection Thou didst raise up with Thyself/ the dead who slept in darkness from ages past,// as King of all and almighty God.
Stichos: Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation./ Let every breath praise the Lord.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord/ and be glad in His resurrection; for with Himself He hath raised the dead up from the indissoluble bonds of hades,/ and as God He hath granted the world life everlasting// and great mercy.
Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high;/ forget not Thy paupers to the end.
The radiant angel sat upon the stone of the Life-receiving tomb/ and announced to the myrrh-bearing women, saying:/ “The Lord is risen, as He told you before!/ Proclaim ye to His disciples that He goeth before you into Galilee,// and granteth the world life everlasting and great mercy!”
Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart,/ I will tell of all Thy wonders.
Why did ye cause the Cornerstone to be rejected, O most iniquitous Jews?/ Behold, He is the One Whom God set in Sion,/ Who poured water forth from the stone in the wilderness,/ and poureth forth immortality upon us from His own side./ He is the Stone which was quarried from the mountain of the Virgin/ without desire of man,/ the Son of man Who goeth on the clouds of heaven/ to the Ancient of Days, as Daniel said,// and His kingdom is eternal.
Glory… The matins Gospel sticheron.
Now and ever…, Theotokion, in Tone II:
All-blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos,/ for by Him Who became incarnate through thee hath hades been made captive,/ Adam restored, the curse annulled, Eve set free,/ death slain, and we have been given life./ Wherefore, chanting, we cry aloud:// Blessed is Christ God Who hath been thus well pleased! Glory be to Thee!
Great Doxology, and the resurrectional troparion:
Today is salvation come unto the world;/ let us sing praises to Him that arose from the tomb,/ and is the Author of our life./ For, having destroyed death by death,/ He hath given us the victory and great mercy.
Then the litanies and the dismissal.
Sunday Morning Divine Liturgy
On the Beatitudes, these troparia, in Tone VII:
The fruit which slew me was beautiful and good to eat; but Christ is the Tree of life, and eating of Him I do not die, but cry out with the thief: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom!
O Compassionate One, Who wast lifted up upon the Cross, Thou hast erased the record of Adam’s ancient sin, and hast saved the whole human race from deception. Wherefore, we hymn Thee, O Lord and Benefactor.
Thou didst nail our sins to the Cross, O compassionate Christ, and by Thy death Thou didst slay death, O Thou Who didst raise up the dead from among the dead. Wherefore, we worship Thy holy resurrection.
The serpent once poured its venom into the ears of Eve; but on the tree of the Cross Christ poured forth the sweetness of life upon the world. Wherefore, we cry out: Remember us, O Lord, in Thy kingdom!
Thou wast laid in the tomb as one dead, O Christ, Thou Life of all; and Thou didst break down the gates of hades; and having risen again in glory on the third day as One mighty, Thou hast illumined all. Glory to Thine arising!
Having risen from the dead on the third day, the Lord bestowed His peace upon His disciples; and having blessed them, He sent them forth, saying: Lead all into My kingdom!
Triadicon: The Father is light; the Son and Word is light; and the Holy Spirit is light. Yet the Three are one Light, for they are one God in three Persons, One in nature and origin, indivisible, unconfused and preëternal.
Theotokion: For our sake thou gavest birth in the flesh to the Son and Word of the Father, in a way that He Himself knoweth, O Theotokos. Wherefore, O Virgin Mother, we who are deified through thee cry out to thee: Rejoice, O hope of Christians!
Resurrectional troparion, in Tone VII:
Thou didst destroy death by Thy Cross,/ Thou didst open paradise to the thief./ Thou didst change the lamentation of the Myrrh-bearers,/ and Thou didst command Thine Apostles/ to proclaim that Thou didst arise, O Christ God,// and grantest to the world great mercy.
Kontakion, in Tone VII:
No longer will the dominion of death be able to keep men captive;/ for Christ hath descended, demolishing and destroying the powers thereof./ Hades is bound;/ the prophets rejoice with one voice, saying:/ A Savior hath come for them that have faith.// Come forth, ye faithful, for the Resurrection.
Prokimenon, in Tone VII:
The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Stichos: Bring unto the Lord, ye sons of God, bring unto the Lord the sons of rams.
Alleluia, in Tone VII:
It is good to give praise unto the Lord, and to chant unto Thy name, O Most High.
Stichos: To proclaim in the morning Thy mercy, and Thy truth by night.
The Octoechos © Isaac E. Lambertsen